THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION OF DEPENDENCE-PRODUCING DRUGS IS REVIEWED. THE LIMITED DATA ON DRUG DEPENDENCE IN INDIA IS NOTED. FINDINGS FROM STUDIES IN JAPAN, SWEDEN, ENGLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME AND AMPHETAMINE, BARBITURATE, CANNABIS, HALLUCINOGEN, AND OPIATE DEPENDENCE ARE SURVEYED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE CONTRADICTORY VIEWS REGARDING THE CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN MARIHUANA USE AND CRIME. THE INCREASING USE OF CANNABIS AND LSD BY INDIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS IS NOTED, AS IS THE RELATIVELY COMMON USE OF BARBITURATES, MORPHINE, AND SYNTHETIC NARCOTICS AMONG MEDICAL AND PARAMEDICAL PERSONNEL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALCOHOL AND BARBITURATES, THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DRUGS AND CRIME (PARTICULARLY CRIMES OF AGGRESSION) MAY NOT BE CAUSAL, AND THAT BOTH CRIMINAL AND DRUG-TAKING BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE STUDIED FURTHER. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)